NBA Commissioner Blames ‘Greedy’ Agents For Stalling Labor Deal

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: NBA Commissioner David Stern speaks at a press conference after NBA labor negotiations at the New York Helmsley Hotel in the early morning hours of November 10, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

NEW YORK (AP) — NBA Commissioner David Stern blames “greedy” agents for trying to scuttle a new labor deal and believes they are trying to push their clients into a “losing strategy” of decertification.

And Stern says neither the threat of that process nor any request from the union will change the league’s negotiating position, repeating that there would be no further discussions about the revised proposal it offered Thursday. If players don’t accept it, Stern reiterates that he will move to the harsher proposal that is waiting.

Stern is aware of the numerous comments from players criticizing the proposal, and fears they aren’t getting the proper information about its contents because agents worry it will cost themselves money.

Players will meet Monday and decide if they should vote on the proposal.

Stern thinks he can fool players at the 11th hour with his b.s. rhetoric when it’s his greedy owners that are on the verge of torpedoing the season. Any labor committee that includes Jeanie Buss is doomed to fail.